Canvas and Clay

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

~Ecclesiastes 3:11

I have insomnia. It all started back when I had Landon and some health problems developed. That is a very long story. However, because I have insomnia, I try to purposefully use the time when I can’t sleep. Instead of lying in bed tossing and turning, I usually have my quiet time, write, pray, plan the day, etc.

Tonight was one of those nights. Often, God brings songs or song lyrics to my mind. I don’t think it is a coincidence when certain songs replay in my thoughts. I believe there are times when God wants me to share the lyrics and the song.

Yesterday before our church service started which we all watched online (due to Covid), I heard the song “Canvas and Clay” by Pat Barrett. I love music, especially worship music, as I shared in my last post. Anyway the song talks about God being the artist and the potter and how we are the canvas and the clay.

My youngest child has autism and has difficulty with communicating. Sometimes certain songs capture his attention. Yesterday, this song “Canvas and Clay” caused him to stop what he was doing and listen momentarily. He even said a line from the song “not finished with me.” So I knew this song resonated in his spirit and soul and I definitely wanted to share this.

Whatever your circumstances are, ask God to be the artist and the potter in your life. He honestly wants nothing else more. He can take all the good and bad, even mistakes and failures, and turn it into the most amazing masterpiece! I read the following quote once:

“Don’t think you’ve messed up too much or drifted too far in your life for God to use you. You are not that powerful my friend.”

This quote is so true. What we see as lost, hopeless, beyond repair, may quite honestly be the perfect ingredients for God to create a work of art with your life. We often can’t see this with our natural eyes. We have to trust Jesus and use our eyes of faith. He created the entire universe including us. Despite our flaws, imperfections, failures, and mistakes, He can and will make something beautiful if we allow it.

Here are the lyrics and link to “Canvas and Clay.”

In my mother’s womb

You formed me with Your hands

Known and loved by You

Before I took a breath

When I doubt it, Lord, remind me

I’m wonderfully made

You’re an artist and a potter

I’m the canvas and the clay

You make all things work together

For my future and for my good

You make all things work together

For Your glory and for Your name

There’s a healing light

Just beyond the clouds

Though I’ve walked through fire

I see clearly now

I know nothing has been wasted

No failure or mistake

You’re an artist and a potter

I’m the canvas and the clay

You make all things work together

For my future and for my good

You make all things work together

For Your glory and for Your name

You make all things work together

For my future and for my good

You make all things work together

For Your glory and for Your name

You’re not finished with me

You’re not finished with me, yeah

You’re not finished with me

You’re not finished with me, yeah

When I doubt it, Lord, remind me

I’m wonderfully made

You’re an artist and a potter

I’m the canvas and the clay

And I know nothing has been wasted

No failure or mistake

You’re an artist and a potter

I’m the canvas and the clay

You make all things work together

For my future and for my good

You make all things work together

For Your glory and for Your name

When I doubt it, Lord, remind me

I’m wonderfully made

You’re an artist and a potter

I’m the canvas and the clay

And I know nothing has been wasted

No failure or mistake

You’re an artist and a potter

I’m the canvas and the clay

You’re an artist and a potter

I’m the canvas and the clay

You’re an artist and a potter

I’m the canvas and the clay

Your friend,

Tiffany

Musings About Music

Music acts like a magic key, to which the most tightly closed heart opens.” ― Maria von Trapp

“Take a music bath once or twice a week for a few seasons. You will find it is to the soul what a water bath is to the body.” — Oliver Wendell Holmes

“The point is not to completely understand God but to worship Him. Let the very fact that you cannot know Him fully lead you to praise Him for His infiniteness and grandeur.” –Francis Chan

I write the most when I’m going through things. Maybe it is part of the coping process. It very well could be, but I definitely feel like God gives me things to write during trying times. I know it is Him because of the way the information isn’t something I have to try to look up or think a long time about, or create, it just flows through my mind and I type it out as it comes to me. It is kinda hard to explain if you’ve never experienced it, but it is just God giving the words He wants shared. So today what I feel flowing through my mind to share about is music and worship.

Music is one of the most beautiful ways our hearts are able to express and feel deep emotions. I know God designed our hearts, minds, and souls in this way. He wanted us to have a way to experience and express emotional depth and also experience and express emotional connection through worship. How do we know these things? Why do we listen to and enjoy music?

Music may reflect our feelings at times. If we are sad, we may listen to melancholic music. If we are happy, we are often in the mood to listen to upbeat, catchy tunes and lyrics. If we are studying we might listen to classical music.

Music causes our feelings to intensify. Have you ever listened to a love song that perfectly described your romantic feelings for someone? Listening to the love songs that resonated in your heart and mind about that special someone made those feelings stronger. Love songs cause us to think on and ponder the expression of our love for another.

Have you ever been sad and listened to sad, reflective songs and while the music resonated with what you were feeling, it didn’t cause you to feel better? It may be that it even caused your sad feelings to intensify. This is not a surprising phenomenon since music can amplify whatever emotion we are experiencing whether happy, in love, sad, or contemplative.

Music creates a sense of fulfillment. Have you ever listened to a song that resonated with you and you had the sense that the song perfectly described your experience and what you were going through at a particular time? You may have felt the lyrics of the song were written just for you. You may have even heard the song at “just the right time”. I don’t think any of this is a coincidence. We were made to experience the depth of music and it’s lyrics in our souls.

Music cultivates an atmosphere of worship. I play the piano…not super well or anything…but I can play and it is such a fulfilling experience to me. I learned piano as a child and had the wonderful experience of amazing piano instructors as well as not so amazing ones. 😉(For the wonderful piano teachers think-homemade cookies before the piano lesson and singing beautiful vocals along with my attempts at playing hymns and other songs with lyrics. For the the not so wonderful piano instructors- think hit your hand with a ruler or pencil when you play the wrong note and lots of theory exercises.) I love the way music is such an expressive art form. To me the ability to play an instrument is such an enjoyable skill to have. As I’ve been sick with Covid, I love being able to pull out my piano music and play until my hands feel exhausted! It is a soul enriching experience. My favorite types of music are love songs and praise and worship.

I have discovered a secret however. Whenever I am playing for my favorite person, I am the most fulfilled. Not playing for me, or for my feelings at any particular moment, but when I’m playing for my favorite individual. He doesn’t care if I make a mistake or if it’s a particular style of music. He always listens and never gets tired of what I’m playing. He enjoys the fact that He sees my heart and soul and knows I’m playing for Him. I am honoring Him. I am adoring Him. I am worshiping Him. He is God.

Worshiping through music changes and transforms us. It inclines our hearts to God in ways other forms can’t accomplish. Worship strengthens us, convicts us, builds us up, and even restores us. In other words, when we sing and devote our whole selves to God, something godly happens within us. –Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida

What is God’s purpose for music?

It is an enjoyable gift and form of expression of our emotions and feelings.
Ultimately, music is to facilitate the deepest connection of our hearts and souls to God’s heart in worship.

“The heart of God loves a persevering worshipper who, though overwhelmed by many troubles, is overwhelmed even more by the beauty of God.”-Matt Redman

“The reason for our existence is to quench the thirst of Jesus Christ. When he asked for water, the soldier gave him vinegar to drink—but his thirst was for love, for souls, for you and me.”-Mother Teresa

Ultimately we were created to fellowship, know, love, and worship God. Music is an amazingly beautiful conduit to do so. As we lift our music and worship to God, His presence and love fill our heart.

But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”–John 4:23-24

Music isn’t just a pleasure, a transient satisfaction. It’s a need, a deep hunger; and when the music is right, it’s joy. Love. A foretaste of heaven.” — Orson Scott Card

“Music is well said to be the speech of angels; in fact, nothing among the utterances allowed to man is felt to be so divine. It brings us near to the infinite.” ― Thomas Carlyle

Your friend,

Tiffany

My Covid Experience

So I have Covid. I’m past the worst part now. I wasn’t going to post, but am seeing where so many have Covid and just wanted to share some tips that really helped me get past the worst of it. (Let me mention I am not vaccinated, am 42, and have no underlying health conditions other than a gluten allergy.)

On day 1- I had a scratchy throat

day 2- worse sore throat and itchy sinuses, sense of smell and taste starting to disappear

day 3- bad sinus headache and sore throat and more congestion, some fatigue

day 4-5 felt the worst- very painful sore throat, lots of congestion, headache, lots of fatigue, some trouble breathing

day 6- breathing better, some energy starting to return, have literally 0% sense of smell or taste. On day six I could tell that I turned the corner and just had a cough and lingering fatigue.

When I started feeling under the weather on day 1, I did the following (in addition to taking multivitamin/reg. supplements):

Took one baby aspirin per day.
Took a zinc 50 mg per day.
Took an immune plus supplement per day.
Took a Vitamin D3 supplement.
Took extra Vitamin C daily
Took Generic Walmart cold and flu multi-symptom relief as needed (daytime & nightime)
I took a short walk 1-2 times per day and sat outside in the hot/humid air which helped me feel like I could breathe better and honestly made me feel better.

***I also had lots of popsicles in the beginning when my throat was very sore. However I did run across an issue with having too much ice water and popsicles. When I was very congested and feeling the worst, the cold triggered bronchial spasms (think asthma attack) causing me to feel like I was struggling to breathe. It was scary! I realized that cold was the worst thing at that point! I started drinking hot tea, prayed, and used Vick’s vaporub on my chest and on my feet (used to do this with my babies when they got sick with congestion.) That and God began to help me breathe better. So from that point I would only drink hot liquids!***

I’m definitely not a doctor, but just wanted to share the above in case any of those tips could be helpful to anyone with Covid. Also, I’m praying for you if you have Covid. 🙏🙏

Your friend,

Tiffany

Be Alright

“Of all the liars in the world, sometimes the worst are our own fears.”

— Rudyard Kipling

“Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. The fearful are caught as often as the bold.”

— Helen Keller

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.

–1 John 4:18

“But now, this is what the Lord says…Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.”

-Isaiah 43:1

So my daughter and I got exposed to Covid this past weekend. We are still waiting on our test results to come back to see if we have it. I’ve been thinking a lot about Covid and the fear that has gripped so many in regards to this virus.

I know Covid has been very serious for some and I don’t minimize that at all, but I honestly am not worried or fearful and have a peace about it all.

That being said, wisdom is very important and I have been staying at home until we get our results. It is important to me to be considerate of others.

At the same time, I do want to encourage those who are very afraid of Covid.

Please don’t live in fear.

God is in control.

Definitely use wisdom, but don’t let fear of Covid control you.

God is sovereign.

We can’t add a single day to our lives.

(Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?

-Matthew 6:27)

Each one of our days is already written and God sees all of them. (All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God, how vast is the sum of them.

-Psalm 139:16-17)

He decides when our life comes to an end, not us. To me that is a comfort.

Also please remember to love your family members and those around you and show them that love through your words and actions even in the middle of the Covid altered world we live in now.

Don’t let your fear of Covid keep you from that.

I personally know of family members who are completely avoiding other family members because of Covid related issues. These issues include shunning and shaming family members at family events, funerals, etc. because some choose to get vaccinated and some do not.

It is heartbreaking to me to see this divisiveness in families. Something that does indeed come to my mind is what would Jesus do? Would he shun people because of belief about a vaccination or not? Would he shun people who were sick or had the possibility of being sick? Would he want us to be consumed with fear and never leave our house, never go to church, basically become a recluse because of a virus?

Of course He would not. He always allowed others to come to Him. It didn’t matter who they were or if they were sick. In fact, He said He came for the sick! Why shouldn’t we treat others that way? Of course we should use wisdom…but at the end of the day I would rather catch Covid while showing someone the love of Jesus than staying holed up in my house because of fear of the virus! If I caught Covid and died because I was being the hands and feet of Jesus, it would be okay! I would be in my eternal home with Jesus! I wouldn’t have the regret that I didn’t love my family or friends because of fear. Chances are pretty high most people are not going to die from Covid.

I would rather live life free from bondage of fear than getting to the end of my days (whenever that is) and feeling the sting of regret that I didn’t care for and love those around me.

Eternity is forever.

Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

-James 4:14

Our life here on earth is just a vapor, here today and gone tomorrow. It’s too short to waste. It’s too short not to live it to the fullest for Jesus. It’s too short not to use the gifts and talents He gave you to show His love to others. Be free from the grip of fear.
Trust God.

He’s got this.

He really does.

Everything will be alright.

Your friend,

Tiffany

Jireh

I heard the following song this past Sunday at my parent’s church. The lyrics have been playing in my mind ever since. Just wanted to share. Hope this song is an encouragement to you. You’ve never been more loved than you are right now. ❤️
Your friend,

Tiffany

Jireh

Elevation Worship and Maverick City Music

I’ll never be more loved than I am right now
Wasn’t holding You up
So there’s nothing I can do to let You down
It doesn’t take a trophy to make You proud
I’ll never be more loved than I am right now, ohGoing through a storm but I won’t go down
I hear Your voice
Carried in the rhythm of the wind to call me out
You would cross an ocean so I wouldn’t drown
You’ve never been closer than You are right now
(Let’s sing it loud y’all)You are Jireh, You are enough
Jireh, You are enough
And I will be content in every circumstance
You are Jireh, You are enoughForever enough
Always enough
More than enough
Forever enough
Always enough
More than enoughI don’t wanna forget how I feel right now
On the mountaintop
I can see so clear what it’s all about
So stay by my side when the sun goes down
Don’t wanna forget how I feel right now (Jireh)Jireh, You are enough
Jireh, You are enough (so I will be)
I will be content in every circumstance
Jireh, You are enough (He is always enough)He’s forever enough
Always enough
Always more than enough
He is, He is
Forever enough
Always enough (He’s everything, He’s always)
More than enough (yeah)I’m already loved
I’m already chosen
I know who I am
I know what You’ve spoken
I’m already loved
More than I could imagine
And that is enough, oh-ohI’m already loved (I’m already loved)
I’m already chosen (I’m already chosen)
I know who I am (I know who I am)
I know what You’ve spoken (I know what You’ve spoken)
I’m already loved (I’m already loved)
More than I could imagine (more than I could imagine)
That is enough (that is enough)
It’s enough for me, ohI’m already loved (I’m already loved)
I’m already chosen (I’m already chosen)
I know who I am (I know who I am)
I know, I know what You’ve spoken (I know what You’ve spoken)
I’m already loved (I’m already loved)
More than I could even fathom (more than I could imagine)
And that is enough (and that is enough)
Yes it is, it’s enough, it’s enoughAnd that is enough (that is enough)
What His truth says is better than anything
That is enough (that is enough)
What He’s declared over us, it’s true
That is enough (that is enough)
That is enough (that is enough)That is enough (that is enough)
Jehovah, You are (that is enough)
El Shaddai, You are (that is enough)
When I have You, I have everything (that is enough)
When I have Jesus, I have everything (that is enough)
That is enough (that is enough)’Cause You are enough (You are enough)
You’re my portion (You are enough)
You’re my portion (You are enough)
More than enough for me (You are enough)
Say, You are enough (You are enough)
So I am enough (so I am enough)
You are enough (You are enough)
So I am enough (so I am enough)
Say, JirehJireh, You are enough (Jireh)
Jireh, You are enough (yes Your are)
I will be content in every circumstance
Jireh, You are enough, oh-ooh (You are)If He dresses the lilies with beauty and splendor
How much more will He clothe you?
How much more will He clothe you?
If He watched over every sparrow
How much more does He love you?
How much more does He love you?If He dresses the lilies with beauty and splendor
How much more will He clothe you?
How much more will He clothe you?
If He watched over every sparrow
How much more does He love you?
How much more does He love you?If He dresses the lilies with beauty and splendor
How much more will He clothe you?
How much more will He clothe you?
If He watched over every sparrow (don’t you worry!)
How much more does He love you? (Our Father loves you)
How much more does He love you? (How much more?)How much more does He love you? (How much more?)
How much more does He love you? (How much more?)
How much more does He love you? (How much more?)
How much more does He love you? (How much more?)
How much more does He love you?It’s more than you ask, think or imagine
According to His power working in us
It’s more than enough
It’s more than you ask, think or imagine, oh yeah
According to His power working in us
It’s more than enough (let’s go y’all)It’s more than you ask, think or imagine (so according)
According to His power, it’s working in us (how much more does He love you?)
It’s more than enough (how much more? Sing!)
More than you ask, think or imagine (so according)
According to His power working in us (how much more does He love you?)
It’s more than enough (one more time, sing!)More than you ask, think or imagine
According to His power working in us (how much more does He love you?)
It’s more than enough (how much more?)
It’s more than enough (how much more?)
More than you know (more than enough)
It’s more than enough (more than you know)
More than you know (more)Jireh, You are enough
Jireh, You are enough (You’ve always been enough)
And I will be content in every circumstance
Jireh, You are enoughAnd I will be content (yes) in every circumstance
Jireh, You are enough

False Evidence Appearing Real (FEAR)

Fear is born of Satan, and if we would only take time to think a moment we would see that everything Satan says is founded upon a falsehood.

– A. B. Simpson

Seeing that a pilot steers the ship in which we sail, who will never allow us to perish even in the midst of shipwrecks, there is no reason why our minds should be overwhelmed with fear and overcome with weariness.

– John Calvin

Worry is a cycle of inefficient thoughts whirling around a center of fear.

– Corrie Ten Boom

How very little can be done under the spirit of fear.

– Florence Nightingale

Fear is a self imposed prison that will keep you from becoming what God intends for you to be. You must move against it with the weapons of faith and love.

– Rick Warren

The only known antidote to fear is faith.

– Woodrow Kroll

Faith, which is trust, and fear are opposite poles. If a man has the one, he can scarcely have the other in vigorous operation. He that has his trust set upon God does not need to dread anything except the weakening or the paralyzing of that trust.

– Alexander MacLaren

Fear imprisons, faith liberates; fear paralyzes, faith empowers; fear disheartens, faith encourages; fear sickens, faith heals; fear makes useless, faith makes serviceable.

– Harry Emerson Fosdick

Our lives are full of supposes. Suppose this should happen, or suppose that should happen; what could we do; how could we bear it? But, if we are living in the high tower of the dwelling place of God, all these supposes will drop out of our lives. We shall be quiet from the fear of evil, for no threatenings of evil can penetrate into the high tower of God.

– Hannah Whitall Smith

Where fear is present, wisdom cannot be.

– Assorted Authors

Hope is like the cork to the net, which keeps the soul from sinking in despair; and fear, like the lead to the net, which keeps it from floating in presumption.

It’s wonderful to climb the liquid mountains of the sky. Behind me and before me is God and I have no fears.

– Helen Keller

I’m fairly certain I haven’t written much about fear but recently was made aware of a situation in which fear was involved.

I wouldn’t say I’m the bravest most courageous person in the world, however, I do place total and complete trust in my Heavenly Father (which eliminates a lot of fear.) It can be a little difficult for me to wrap my brain around having such a level of mental fear since I don’t typically operate out of a fear-based mindset.

Now I’m becoming aware that some individuals are quite the opposite. Some people allow their fear to control their life and their every thought. In extreme cases, the fear may even cause them to hurt ones close to them.

I recently was on the receiving end of someone else’s fear. I won’t get into the specifics, but a person’s fear-based actions were directed at me and honestly hurt me. After dealing with the disbelief for a couple of days (and a situation I never saw coming) I decided to continue to pray about the situation and those involved and let it go. I am truly sad for those who are affected and will continue to be affected by this fear unless this person discovers the antidote to overcoming their fear which is faith.

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and thatHe is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Without faith it is impossible to please God.

~Hebrews 11:6

Either we trust God or we don’t. Either we believe God is taking care of us or we don’t.

I PERSONALLY KNOW FROM EXPERIENCE THAT BAD THINGS HAPPEN IN LIFE THAT WE DO NOT UNDERSTAND.

But does that mean we should give up on trusting God? Does that mean we should try to obsessively control each and every detail of every aspect of our life to the point of being miserable? Do we think we know best, that we know better than God? Has the worry and the fear and the anxiety become an idol in our lives?

Even if we truly believe we can control (due to our fear) every minute detail, the truth is that we really and truly are not humanly able to do that. We cannot add a minute to our lives by worrying.

It is living in bondage to try and micromanage our own lives and the lives of those around us due to fear.

It is not God’s will for us to live that way.

If you have experienced or are experiencing such overwhelming fear, please talk to your Heavenly Father who dearly loves you and does not want you to live under the weight of fear. Consider talking through things with trusted Christian friends or family members or even Christian counselors who can help you process your fears and feelings. There is absolutely no shame in that. For some it may take courage to take that first step, but in the end it will be worth it!

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.~John 16:33

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” ~ Isaiah 41:10

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” ~ 2 Timothy 1:7

“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” ~ 1 John 4:18

“But now, this is what the Lord says…Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.” ~ Isaiah 43:1

YOU ARE HIS AND HE LOVES YOU!

Believe in that truth.

Rest in that knowledge.

Trust Him.

Your friend,

Tiffany

Heaven: The Ultimate Vacation Destination

My pastor’s sermon yesterday was about Heaven. He talked about what Heaven really is. It is a real place prepared for people who have a relationship with Jesus.

Christians have a dual citizenship – on earth and in heaven – and our citizenship in heaven ought to make us better people here on earth.
– Warren W. Wiersbe

He discussed the basic, probably mostly well-know fact among Christians, which is that we can’t get to Heaven by good works. But do we really believe that and live that way? What does our calendar, bank account, the way we use our natural giftings or talents say? Do we really live and act as though our relationship with Jesus is our most important priority?

Let heaven fill your thoughts instead. Because when you do, everything on earth gets placed in its proper perspective.
– Greg Laurie

When we are planning to take a vacation, we think and dream about it. We study the location we plan to travel to. We learn about the area-what activities we will do there, what it looks like, the route we will take to get there, etc. Much like planning for a vacation, our lives should reflect that we are planning to travel to Heaven.

Surely it is not wrong for us to think and talk about Heaven. I like to find out all I can about it. I expect to live there through all eternity. If I were going to dwell in any place in this country, if I were going to make it my home, I would inquire about its climate, about the neighbors I would have — about everything, in fact, that I could learn concerning it. If soon you were going to emigrate, that is the way you would feel. Well, we are all going to emigrate in a very little while. We are going to spend eternity in another world. … Is it not natural that we should look and listen and try to find out who is already there and what is the route to take? – D.L. Moody

We wait with anticipation and count down the days until our vacation. Everyone around us knows we are going on vacation! We wait with excitement, often impatiently! We go shopping for all necessary items we will need for the trip. We have a hard time focusing on much else because we are so looking forward to our vacation!

Our creator would never have made such lovely days and have given us the deep hearts to enjoy them, above and beyond all thought, unless we were meant to be immortal.

– Nathaniel Hawthorne

As we are preparing for our vacation, we don’t want to forget one of the most important and honestly very basic of things:

We have to make a reservation.

If we forget to do that, all the dreaming, planning, and preparing won’t matter at all.

How do you make the reservation? You call/email/communicate with whomever is in charge of the condo/hotel/house rental or whomever represents it. They give you instructions to follow in order to ensure you can stay there. If you don’t follow the instructions, you can kiss your vacation goodbye.

Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither. – C.S. Lewis

The hills and valleys of Heaven will be to those you now experience not as a copy is to an original, nor as the substitute is to the genuine article, but as the flower to the root, or the diamond to the coal.
– C.S. Lewis

The cool thing about Heaven is we don’t have to pay for the trip. The cost has been covered by our Heavenly Father through Jesus.

So after the planning, preparing, making reservations, we have to wait for the day of departure to arrive. When that day arrives we set off for our glorious vacation. But did we consider another very important part of our trip? The question of Who will be there when we arrive?

That fact can totally make or break an earthly vacation. Will we be spending our vacation with our family, our friends, or both? If it is our family members, or people closest to us, we may have already had the opportunity to spend time with them beforehand, spend time in their presence. Often, we don’t have to wait until we arrived on site for our vacation to be in their presence.

The presence of God is what makes Heaven Heaven.

~Pastor Bill Bryan

As Pastor Bill stated, God’s presence is ultimately what makes Heaven Heaven. The coolest thing of all? We can experience the Lord’s presence right now! We don’t even have to wait to get to Heaven.

How do we experience God’s presence now? Talk to Him (pray), think about Him (reading His Word helps to do this), worship Him (verbal affirmations, singing, etc.)

Lucifer (Satan) was created to worship God. When he failed to do that, God created us. God gave us the free will to worship Him.

~Pastor Bill Bryan

The fact that our heart yearns for something Earth can’t supply is proof that Heaven must be our home.

– C S Lewis

Have you ever noticed that being in the presence of certain people fills our hearts with joy. It is really almost an indescribable experience. (Obviously this is not the case for all people we are around. 😉) Often we don’t care where the vacation destination is or what we are doing if we are spending time and communicating with our closest family or friends. The warmth, light, and love certain individuals exude touch and fill our own hearts with the same. But those feelings pale in comparison to the Holy Spirit and the light He fills us with.

Suddenly, I was enveloped in this brilliant golden light. The light was more brilliant than the light emanating from the sun, many times more powerful and radiant than the sun itself. Yet, I was not blinded by it nor was I burned by it. Instead, the light was a source of energy that embraced my being.
– Ned Dougherty

We honestly can’t even begin to imagine the wonders, beauty, and magnificence of Heaven. The grandeur of our trip to Heaven far outweighs any vacation we can take on Earth. Our purpose here on Earth is to truly worship God while traveling to Heaven and share this with others so they can do the same.

But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

1 Corinthians 2:9

Earth is only a pale version of heaven, not the other way around.

– Greg Laurie

This earthly body is slow and heavy in all its motions, listless and soon tired with action. But our heavenly bodies shall be as fire; as active and as nimble as our thoughts are. – John Wesley

We are just travelers passing through this Earth and all the vacations we enjoy here are such tiny, fractional bits of the glorious, wondrous Home of Heaven, where we will actually see Jesus face to face.

I’m so thankful His presence is with us even now. It gives us a small taste of all that is to come and is waiting for us in our eternal Home.

Your friend,

Tiffany

PS. We sang the following song during worship yesterday at church. I love it! Enjoy!

https://m.youtube.com/results?sp=mAEA&search_query=abba+i+belong+to+you

The Hope Experiment

A friend of mine posted the following on Facebook today. I thought it was pretty amazing and wanted to share. Keep swimming and hang on to hope! You can do all things through Christ’s strength! (Yes, I’m totally speaking to myself right now, too. 😊)

During a BRUTAL study at Harvard in the 1950s, Dr. Curt Richter placed rats in a pool of water to test how long they could tread water.

On average they’d give up and sink after 15 minutes.

But right before they gave up due to exhaustion, the researchers would pluck them out, dry them off, let them rest for a few minutes – and put them back in for a second round.

In this second try – how long do you think they lasted? 🤔

Remember – they had just swam until failure only a few short minutes ago…

How long do you think?

Another 15 minutes?

10 minutes?

5 minutes?

No!

60 hours! 😳

That’s not an error. 🤷🏼‍♀️

That’s right! 60 hours of swimming.

The conclusion drawn was that since the rats BELIEVED that they would eventually be rescued, they could push their bodies way past what they previously thought impossible.

I will leave you with this thought:

If hope can cause exhausted rats to swim for that long, what could a belief in yourself and your abilities, do for you?

*Remember what you’re capable of. Remember why you’re here.

Keep swimming.

*** I saw this today on Facebook and found it doubtful so researched it. It is a true story and referred to as, “The Hope Experiment” and is well known apparently in the psychology world.

The Sun Will Rise

Okay so this evening was a little rough. My husband had to work late and it usually takes two of us to brush Landon’s teeth. Even with a sensory toothbrush, strawberry flavored toothpaste and the assurance that we will be “all done” with brushing his teeth as quickly as we can, it involves a huge fight on Landon’s part with limbs flailing, him yelling, crying and basically acting like we are trying to brutally murder him.

Usually Murry and I obtain bites, scratches and bruises in the process. Even though we have brushed his teeth everyday for probably the last seven years, every day we get the same reaction from Landon.

Autism.

This is just one tiny facet of what it means for your child to have severe autism. Well, today Murry had to work late so I had to complete this lovely teeth brushing task on my own. (Yes, I have considered never brushing his teeth and basically letting his teeth rot out. And this is coming from a person who has never had a cavity. So yeah, autism can affect you on levels you never really dreamed of….)

Anyway, I don’t know what it was about tonight. But as I was attempting to hold my 63 pound son down in order to brush his teeth, I realized he really did not understand why I was brushing his teeth. He does not understand the fact that he already has cavities and I’m trying to avoid him having to go to the operating room, have him put under general anesthesia just to get cavities filled. He’s thinking “Mama is just torturing me and she knows I hate this because of my sensory system being in overdrive and yet, she still does this every single day.”

I don’t know what it was about tonight. Usually I hold the emotions in check, but as I was holding him after I finished brushing his teeth, while he was still screaming and fighting me, my own tears started. I realized looking into his confused eyes, that he has no idea why we brush his teeth. Will he ever understand? Will he ever be able to realize we are doing this because we love him and want to take care of him no matter how much he hates us, bruises us, bites us?

Psalm 56:8

You keep track of all my sorrows.

You have collected all my tears in your bottle.

You have recorded each one in your book.

Are we ever that way with our Heavenly Father? Do we fight Him and say “how can you do this to me” while only viewing our situation from our own limited understanding and perspective? Do we ask God how He can allow a health problem or relationship problem or financial problem in our life? Do we ask God why He’s letting all these negative circumstances happen to us? Do we ask what we did to deserve this and is it fair? Do we treat God the way Landon treats us when we brush his teeth?

Sometimes God calms the storm, sometimes He calms us. He wants us to have a bigger perspective than just our own. We have to trust Him that he is going to work ALL things for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

I once read a quote that said “Just because the story has a happy ending doesn’t mean you can’t cry during the sad parts.”

Well, I had a sad part tonight. But after my tears, I had to stop and look toward the future…the future of Landon’s healing, the future of our eternity in Heaven, the future of a perfect life with Jesus.

I know that tonight was just a moment in time. (I am not minimizing the fact that it is very overwhelming and draining to say the least of being an autism parent.) But in the morning the sun will rise and Landon will jump in my lap and give me kisses. And I’ll cherish that moment. I’ll hold it in my heart and I will smile. And it will be a glimpse of the way it will be all the time in Heaven. And then we won’t even remember the tears.

Your friend,

Tiffany

Good, Good Father

I recorded this far from perfect video today. 😊 I wanted to play a song for Father’s Day and felt like Good, Good Father is the song God put on my heart. Even if your earthly father is no longer here, your Heavenly Father is always with you, loving you! (I incorrectly substituted earthly for Heavenly when talking before I played the song. Oops. 😊)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fCOYwx9BIJj-QT_0fxlh7fwDP7xOOXx7/view?usp=drivesdk